Last night 5 members from the Portland IEA group met at the home of Jill Kelly for a workshop on writing an artist statement. The workshop was excellent; Jill is an author, consultant and experienced career guide for women in the arts. She asked us a series of penetrating questions about our work as we scribbled our answers onto a notepad in longhand. I filled about 6 pages with personal observations and obsessions. Then she guided us through the process of winnowing out the gold and outlined several ways to approach writing the actual statement.I've written statements for my work before of course but I think this helped me figure out the current struggle I'm having between chaos (non-representational) and control (representational). As I've grown more open and mature in my personal life, so has my ability grown to relinquish power over every detail and this has carried over into the work too. I definitely go back and forth on this but overall my soul has learned to trust - both myself and others - to be accepting and easy about what I create.
Jill said the most wonderful thing about artists that's too good not to share with you. She said that we are magicians, that we are on the path of something sacred (can you feel it?) and that we are aware of the creative process in our work and in our lives. Those three things. The word magician may give pause but certainly it is true that we create things that have never existed before us. Food for thought.
9 comments:
Hugs abound for Mrs. Wise...
It is true we are magicians! This must be why I love magical realism in both literature and art. The impossible is always possible, we just need to create it! I love and appreciate your wisdom.
magic abounds! A lovely sharing with those of us not there again, Judy. I do feel it, I sense it, dream it, and now am creating it...
And that STRAWberry! Holy moly!
Definitely food for thought, along with the luscious strawberry.
Ro
xo
judy, i have never thought of my work and process in that way, for sure food for thought.
Judy, you said "...my soul has learned to trust - both myself and others - to be accepting and easy about what I create" , and it's that word "Accepting" that has given me more insight these days about art & life. Eckhart Tolle wrote that "Performing an action in the state of acceptance means you are at peace while you do it." A great place to be!!
~Sharon
that sounds like such a fantastic workshop. i have heard the phrase "artist statement" but have never given the idea much thought. it is only lately i have come to feel comfortable with the word artist as it relates to me. i def. feel we are magicians, there is magic in creating. and i love the words--on the path of something sacred. lots of thoughts are catching hold after reading this post. thank you judy.
Hi Judy, I am such a luker on your blog but today's bolt (I meant to type post but look what came out instead!!) was too good to pass up. Not only did the image take my breath away, but message was fabu as well. I love being called a magician and I will claim that right proudly now. I often say what I have created is magic to me but never thought about me being the magician! Thanks for all the inspiration over the last few months from the land of enchantment, leau
Thank-you for posting this!
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